She started to protest, but he reached out to her hand. “Do you trust me, even a little?”
She wanted to say no, that two days wasn’t long enough to trust anyone. But he had done what he could to keep her safe. “A little, I suppose. But not very much.”
“I want to help you get some sleep tonight. Since you have no lady’s maid to assist you.”
It was then that she understood exactly what he intended. He wanted to help unbutton her gown, loosening her corset. Words of protest flew to her lips, but she couldn’t seem to gather up her thoughts.
“You’re about to fall asleep standing up,” he predicted. “And rest assured, I’ve no intention of taking advantage of you. Especially not with a gunshot wound.”
“I don’t know if it would be a good idea,” she admitted. Yet, she’d gone so long without sleep, her vision was starting to blur. Just the thought of a warm bed and being able to sleep made her crave it even more.
“It’s only a courtesy. I think I can unfasten a few buttons without bothering you too much.”
Her sensibilities were screaming at her, and Serena had no idea why she was even considering it. Never in her life had she done anything improper. And yet, within the past two days, she’d broken so many rules of propriety, her reputation was beyond repair.
She’d spent time alone with the prince, even allowing him to kiss her. Now, they were standing together in her bedchamber, and he was wanting to undress her.
“I should go,” she whispered, closing her eyes.
The prince came to stand behind her. He stood so close, she could almost feel the heat radiating from his skin. “But you won’t. Not yet.”
His hands moved to rest upon her shoulders. When his fingers flicked open the first button, something stirred within her. One by one, his hands moved down her spine, until she felt the cool air against her back. She gripped her arms across her chest, and with each touch of his fingers, her breasts grew heavy and tight.
She shouldn’t be standing here, allowing him to undress her. Inside, her conscience was screaming at her for the wanton behavior. But she’d been without sleep for so long, the desperate needs were drowning her brain’s common sense.
Serena felt a pressure against her nipples, almost as if he’d touched them instead of the last button. His hands moved downto the tight laces of her corset, and she couldn’t quite catch her breath.
Her skin was burning, and the unexpected response confused her. He loosened the knot, and as he adjusted the laces, she felt the heavy corset growing less constricted. When she believed she could raise it over her head without any trouble, she held the front of her gown tightly and turned to face him. Her shoulders were bared to him, and the look on his face was of a man starving for her.
“Go back to your room,” he ordered. “Now.” His hazel eyes held a fierce expression, and she fled without question.
When she reached her bedchamber, Serena turned the key in the lock before allowing her dress to fall to the floor. The corset was more difficult to remove, but she arched her back, lifting it over her head. She kept her chemise and a single petticoat on, for she had no nightdress.
And when she slid beneath the covers, her aching body resonated with the memory of his touch. Her mind played over the image of his hands on her skin.
She rubbed at her bruised ribs, staring into the darkness. Karl could have been killed this night, leaving her with no one. And although she had no wish to wed him, neither did she want anything to happen to the prince.
Her mind drifted back to the kiss he’d taken. She rested her face in her hands, remembering the firm command of his mouth. Why had he done it? She hadn’t been thinking clearly, but it was as if he’d shattered an invisible pane of glass. His mouth had been so warm, and she’d felt the stirrings of an intangible need.
And she simply didn’t know what to do about it now.
Chapter Seven
Karl was haunted by the vision of Serena’s bare skin. He’d mistakenly believed that he could help her unfasten her gown and corset without responding—but he couldn’t have been more wrong.
As he’d loosened every button, baring more of her skin, her womanly scent had aroused him to the point of physical pain. He’d wanted to kiss her bare back, to cup her full breasts and strip away every layer between them.
But then he’d seen the bruises that ran from her back around to her ribs. The yellowed skin revealed the healing, and it made him aware of just how abused she’d been.
From the extent of the damage, he guessed that her ribs had been broken. How could anyone do this to a royal princess? Disbelief and fury tangled within him, but he wasn’t going to let it happen again.
He would never let her leave on her own with no one but strangers to take care of her. She was too innocent to fully understand the danger.
Karl stared into the firelight, wondering what the hell he was doing. Somehow, he had to convince her that marrying him was her best option and that he would never harm her.
He lay back on his bed, a fiery ache plaguing his side. He remembered Serena’s smooth hands passing over his skin and the way she’d touched him with such gentleness. She’d been so tense when he’d unlaced her, as if she believed his control would snap and he’d force himself upon her. She didn’t know just how close to the edge he’d been.
Though he’d brought her to the island with the intent of seducing her, forcing her to marry him…he couldn’t do it any more. Not after what she’d endured.
